The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 3: "The Path" – Grief, Justice, and the Journey Ahead

Last week's episode of The Last of Us left me — and a lot of fans — absolutely wrecked. Joel’s brutal death wasn’t just a devastating moment for Ellie and Tommy; it shook the entire foundation of the show. As painful as it was, though, episode 3 is where things really start to shift. It's not just about surviving anymore — it’s about carrying the weight of loss, confronting vengeance, and moving forward into even darker territory.

(Warning: Major spoilers for Season 2, Episode 3 ahead)

Three Months Later: Grief Frozen in Time

The episode opens in the immediate aftermath of Joel’s death, and honestly, I wasn’t prepared. Tommy sits next to his brother’s lifeless body, utterly shattered. Meanwhile, Ellie is unconscious in the hospital, badly injured after the attack — broken ribs, punctured lung, and wounds that run much deeper than the physical.

When she finally wakes, haunted by the image of Joel’s death, the heartbreak is almost too much to watch. Her screams rip through the hospital halls. It’s brutal. And then, just like that, we jump three months ahead.

Jackson is slowly piecing itself back together, but some scars aren't so easy to fix. Ellie, now physically recovered, faces one final hurdle before being released: a therapy session with Gail (played brilliantly by Catherine O’Hara, even if Gail still rubs me the wrong way).

The therapy scene hit me harder than I expected. Ellie struggles with regret over the things left unsaid between her and Joel. It’s a raw, incredibly human moment: "It’s not the last thing you say to someone that defines your whole relationship" Ellie’s words broke me a little — because honestly, isn’t that what we all hope for after losing someone we love?

Saying Goodbye (But Not Really)

Back home, Ellie wanders through Joel’s house. His carvings. His old watch. His gun. It’s like a shrine to everything that’s gone. Bella Ramsey gives one of her best performances yet here — barely holding it together, then crumbling completely in Joel’s closet. I felt every second of her grief.

Then Dina shows up. Sweet, loyal Dina with a box of cookies and a secret. Over the past three months, she’s been gathering intel on Joel’s killers — the WLF, or Washington Liberation Front. A militant faction based in Seattle.

This scene felt like the real beginning of Ellie’s next chapter. No more hospitals. No more frozen grief. It's time to move.

Justice or Revenge? (And Does It Matter?)

Taking their findings to Tommy, Ellie and Dina try to rally support. But Jackson’s council is cautious. They’re still rebuilding after the infected attack, and sending a team to Seattle could leave them dangerously vulnerable. Some voices call for forgiveness. Others, like Bigot Man — yes, that guy from the dance — demand action. Surprisingly, he becomes Ellie’s unexpected ally in pushing for justice.

Ellie’s speech to the council is powerful. She insists it’s not about revenge — it’s about justice for Joel. But honestly? As a fan who knows Ellie’s heart, I could feel the lines blurring. When you lose someone like that, is there even a difference?

The council votes against her. So Ellie does what Ellie always does: she refuses to give up.

Ride or Die: Ellie and Dina's Journey Begins

Knowing Ellie would leave on her own, Dina — MVP of the episode — steps up. She’s already made plans: supplies, weapons, horses, and even backup from (of all people) Seth, a.k.a. Bigot Man.

Their farewell at Joel’s grave absolutely wrecked me. They leave a bag of coffee beans — a callback to the simple, human pleasures Joel once loved. The sunset paints the hills in gold as they ride away, a scene so gorgeous it almost made me forget the horror waiting ahead.

This isn’t just a road trip. It’s a pilgrimage of pain.

A World More Broken Than Before

On their way to Seattle, Ellie and Dina stumble upon a scene that drives home just how bad things have gotten. A peaceful group of Seraphites — the "Scars" — are found slaughtered. Among the dead: a little girl who only wanted a hammer.

Dina throws up. Ellie stands in silent, seething horror. It’s a powerful reminder that The Last of Us is never just about the infected. Humans — desperate, divided humans — are often the true monsters.

And when Seattle finally looms into view, it's clear: they’re walking into a warzone. The WLF isn’t some ragtag militia. It’s an army, with tanks, towers, and terrifying organization.

Big Changes From the Game (And Why I Think They Work)

As someone who played The Last of Us Part II obsessively, I noticed some major shifts. The most obvious: in the game, Tommy leaves almost immediately to hunt Abby. Here, three months pass. It actually makes more emotional sense in the show — Jackson needed time to rebuild, and Ellie needed time to physically heal and emotionally fester in her grief.

I also loved the added complexity to the Seraphites. In the game, the Scars could feel a bit like caricatures — creepy cultists with no real depth. Here, seeing the Seraphites as families, with fathers comforting daughters, added so much humanity. It makes their eventual slaughter even more devastating — and shows just how ruthless the WLF really is.

And about Abby? She didn't appear this episode, but that’s by design. Just like the game, it seems the show will keep us anchored in Ellie’s perspective for now. I suspect Season 3 will shift more heavily toward Abby’s story.

Final Thoughts: Grief Changes Everything

This episode wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t action-packed. But it was essential. It showed how grief can hollow you out. How vengeance can masquerade as justice. And how love — no matter how broken — never truly dies.

Watching Ellie and Dina ride toward Seattle, I couldn’t help but feel both dread and admiration. This is no longer a story about surviving a pandemic. It’s a story about surviving ourselves.

And I’m terrified — but ready — for whatever comes next.